Yet another Barcelona star stuck in tax evasion

After a treble-winning season last time around, Barcelona are well on course to repeat the feat this season. They are at the top of the table in La Liga, 8 points away from second-placed Atletico Madrid, the same team they were drawn in the quarter-final of the Champions League this season.

They are already into the final of the Copa del Rey and most of this success is down to the front line of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar Jr a trio that has racked up over 100 goals in all competitions this season.

However, they are not away from controversy with Luis Suarez’ biting incidents and Messi tax invasions.

And now it looks like the young Brazilian is following the steps of his teammates after it was recently announced that he is convicted of tax fraud.

According to Brazilian daily Folha de Sao Paulo (h/t Moises Llorens of AS), the 24-year old has not properly declared his earnings from Santos, Barcelona and Nike sponsorships.

The Brazilian was also accused of producing false contracts to his original earnings and has not paid the tax he is due in full.

The exciting winger is also involved in another hearing about the allegations he has faced over his transfer from Santos to Barcelona in 2013. He has already appeared in court regarding this case earlier in February which subsequently saw 32 million euros worth of assets belonging to Neymar, including the forward’s private jet, a yacht and several properties in Brazil.

Earlier this year, Neymar and his father were also ordered to pay a €100,000 fine over unpaid tax amounts from 2007 and 2008. It was revealed that the Barça star used three companies he had set up along with his father, Neymar da Silva, to conceal £11 million in taxes.

A federal court in Rio ruled that the winger failed to pay the taxes due from his earnings in Brazil added a further £25 million in interest and fines to the amount the player must cough up making Neymar liable for £35 million.

However, none of this has affected the 24-year olds from on the field as he fired his team to the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a goal against Arsenal.

He did not make any statement when the news broke on Friday and has now denied the charges and is given a chance to appeal these decisions to a higher court.

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